# Street takeover in Yaphank ends in four arrests

> Suffolk County police broke up a 1 a.m. drag race, then used the racers' own Instagram videos to identify them.
- Title: Street takeover in Yaphank ends in four arrests | Shortify
- Summary: Suffolk County police broke up a 1 a.m. drag race, then used the racers' own Instagram videos to identify them. Posting your own street race online hands…
- Keywords: street racing, suffolk county, police, long island, arrests, news, local, Street, takeover, Yaphank, ends, four
- Source: ABC7 New York — https://abc7ny.com/post/arrested-street-takeover-yaphank-suffolk-county/19830407
- Published: 2026-09-14T16:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: street racing, suffolk county, police, long island, arrests, news, local
## Four arrested after a takeover
Suffolk County police arrested four people from Connecticut and impounded a truck and a race car after a street takeover in Yaphank over the weekend.
## Dozens gathered to watch
Police video shows a crowd ringing two cars that revved their engines, burned out their tires and sped away down the road.

> This was pretty chaotic and extremely dangerous.
## The 1 a.m. call
Officers were sent to Express Drive North just after 1 a.m. Sunday. A Street Takeover Task Force saw cars racing before the group scattered.
## Caught with the trailer
A truck towing a trailer with a race car was pulled over later. Christian Vargas Hernandez, John Maldonado, Lawrence Torres and Efrain Rivera were arrested.
## Their own videos convict them
The police commissioner said racers post clips to Instagram, and investigators pair those with bodycam footage to identify more cars and drivers.

> They are stupid enough to post their own video on Instagram, so we use that against them.
## More arrests expected
The investigation is open. Police expect to seize a second car from the race, and the four arrested got field appearance tickets ahead of arraignment.

> There was another engaging in that race as well and we expect to confiscate that car as well.
## Key takeaway

Posting your own street race online hands police the evidence they need to find you.